All About Windows PhoneNews, reviews, information and apps for Windows Phone.http://allaboutwindowsphone.com/
Sun, 02 Aug 2015 20:20:01 GMTASS Feed Generator 0.3Early days for Fenice for Twitterhttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20856_Early_days_for_Fenice_for_Twit.php
Another Twitter client for Windows Phone. You'll remember that I did a comprehensive round-up? Well, there's another for the pot: 'Fenice for Twitter', which is pretty enough but it's still early days and the UI and functionality can't match the likes of Tweetium. Still, there are some screens, description and a link below if you fancy grabbing it.]]>Sat, 01 Aug 2015 06:51:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20856_Early_days_for_Fenice_for_Twit.phpReview: CC-3090 Microsoft Cover for the Lumia 640 XLhttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/reviews/item/20855_Microsoft_Cover_for_the_Lumia_.php
Yes, yes, I know I just reviewed the equivalent product for the Lumia 640, but a) this is in black, b) it's Friday, and c) there's a chance to have a dig at Microsoft over Qi charging again... This is the black official back cover replacement and it's for the larger device, the Lumia 640 XL, transforming my 'consumer' white 640 XL phablet into a mean black business machine...]]>Fri, 31 Jul 2015 12:59:49 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/reviews/item/20855_Microsoft_Cover_for_the_Lumia_.phpThe Windows 10 Mobile Insiders Preview gets an 'under the hood' update for Store appshttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20854_The_Windows_10_Mobile_Insiders.php
It's been a while since we had a Windows 10 Mobile Insiders Preview, mainly because of all the Microsoft effort that went into meeting July 29th for the desktop/tablet version, but things are starting to get back on track for Mobile, with a new, albeit small update now available for any registered handsets. Labelled simply as 'Developer Enhancements', this update doesn't change the build number (still 10166), seems to help with 'stuck' apps in the Store, and is likely tying in with support for Windows 10 Universal applications and recent developer announcements, so you'll want it if you're playing a lot with third party applications.]]>Fri, 31 Jul 2015 10:00:10 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20854_The_Windows_10_Mobile_Insiders.phpMeanwhile, back on the phone... Living with Windows 10 Mobile as July endshttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20852_Meanwhile_back_on_the_phone_Li.php
It has been a month since my last 'living with Windows 10 Mobile' feature - and since then we've seen a new build (10166) and are on the verge of another by by reckoning, plus there have been numerous core application updates via the Store. And with Windows 10 for the desktop now shipping to the great unwashed across the world, it's time for another snapshot of how the Mobile version is faring - I've been living with it for the last 48 hours and here's what's currently working and not working.]]>Thu, 30 Jul 2015 08:48:12 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20852_Meanwhile_back_on_the_phone_Li.phpThe Windows 10 review round-uphttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20851_The_Windows_10_review_round-up.php
While other sites cover desktop Windows as well as mobile, we at AAWP like to concentrate on the latter, yet it doesn't mean we're disinterested in larger screens and form factors. Far from it, which is why I'm putting in some Windows 10 flows today (July 29th). In this case, rounding up the reviews for this latest (and 'last') incarnation of Windows for laptops/tablets and PCs. Is there an overwhelming verdict and does it ring true with my own experience?]]>Wed, 29 Jul 2015 17:31:51 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20851_The_Windows_10_review_round-up.phpReview: CC-3089 Microsoft Cover for Lumia 640http://allaboutwindowsphone.com/reviews/item/20850_Microsoft_Cover_for_Lumia_640.php
I have to admit that I gulped a little at the price (£20) for this, the official Microsoft 'cover' for the Lumia 640, but I take it all back. When handing it round friends and family, physically melded with the phone, the general reaction was incredibly positive, turning a non-descript budget (in this case, black) Lumia into something of a blue leather object of desire. Really. It's that nice.]]>Wed, 29 Jul 2015 11:05:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/reviews/item/20850_Microsoft_Cover_for_Lumia_640.phpWindows 10 launch day - the 10-step video pitchhttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20847_Windows_10_launch_day-the_10-s.php
So today is the official launch of Windows 10 for the world - at least on desktops/laptops/tablets. Windows Phone/Mobile users will have to wait another month or two, of course. Clever money says Windows 10 Mobile handsets announced in September, available in October and OTA updates to existing handsets in November.

But it's still worth celebrating the availability of this next generation of Windows across the world, not least because the update is completely free for most home users (from Windows 7 onwards). And if you're in the mood for some punchy video promos then Microsoft has a bunch (appropriately, 10) embedded below, to help bang home the message about what's great about '10'. Much of which will be true for Mobile as well, of course!

]]>Wed, 29 Jul 2015 10:29:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20847_Windows_10_launch_day-the_10-s.phpAAWP Insight #148: Microsoft results and listener questionshttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/media/item/20848_AAWP_Insight_148_Microsoft_res.php
In an extra length AAWP Insight #148, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we start with a wide ranging discussion around Microsoft's Q2 results (8.4 million Lumia phones sold, up 10% year on year) and some thoughts on what comes next. The second part of the podcast is devoted to answering a number of listener questions, ranging from thoughts on Lumia 1320 performance to whether (in the future) other manufacturers will fill the gaps left behind in the Lumia line.]]>Tue, 28 Jul 2015 20:37:15 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/media/item/20848_AAWP_Insight_148_Microsoft_res.phpMicrosoft Translator updated with support for new languageshttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20846_Microsoft_Translator_App_Updat.php
Microsoft has updated its Translator tool in the Windows Phone Store to v3.5. This builds on all the language work built into Bing and Cortana and the update includes voice translation support for Arabic, Catalan, two new forms of Chinese, Danish, Dutch, and others. Plus subtleties like English with a New Zealand accent! And if all this doesn't sound exciting enough, note that Klingon's still in the mix too....]]>Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:47:55 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20846_Microsoft_Translator_App_Updat.phpContinuum for phones a 'hero' but also niche feature - and you'll need a new flagshiphttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20845_Continuum_a_hero_but_niche_fea.php
After a few questions on social media, I wanted to clear up a few misconceptions about Microsoft's Continuum feature for phones, announced at BUILD a few months ago. The idea was that 'new premium phones' plug into HDMI-capable screens, hook up to Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, to run their applications at full desktop resolution. And, most importantly, none of the existing Windows Phone hardware will be compatible with Continuum, but there are good technical reasons for this.]]>Mon, 27 Jul 2015 19:43:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20845_Continuum_a_hero_but_niche_fea.phpUK Trains adds 16 new stationshttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20844_UK_Trains_adds_16_new_stations.php
The thing about routing and scheduling applications is that the real world changes around them - scheduling is usually real time(ish) and easy to update, but the addition of nodes in a network (in this case, stations) not quite as trivial. Here, UK Trains, one of my favourite Windows Phone applications, devoid of an update for 18 months, has just picked one up that adds 16 new stations.]]>Mon, 27 Jul 2015 09:09:27 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20844_UK_Trains_adds_16_new_stations.phpReview: Perfect Tube hits the ground running, but still work to dohttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/reviews/item/20843_Perfect_Tube_hits_the_ground_r.php
For a mobile platform 'without a YouTube client' (i.e. an official app from Google), Windows Phone sure has plenty of YouTube clients provided by third parties. And now the free Perfect Tube joins the fray, from the same developer as Perfect Music, reviewed here. And, like the music player, it's something of a triumph in terms of UI but ultimately slightly let down by real world performance and implementation in places, on my test Lumia 930.]]>Mon, 27 Jul 2015 05:58:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/reviews/item/20843_Perfect_Tube_hits_the_ground_r.php'park4night - camping car et van' client launched for Windows Phonehttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20842_park4night-camping_car_et_van_.php
Well spotted WMPU - and as a long time camper-van and wild parking advocate (with huge caveats about being sensible and responsible), I was very interested to see the appearance on Windows Phone of the cross-platform 'park4night' client. As the name suggests, it's a crowd-sourced system for locating places where you can stay overnight, either free or on a decent commercial site. Somewhat French-heavy so far (the full title gives the game away) and with spotty coverage here in the UK, it's still a worthwhile initiative, and essentially for free for most users.]]>Sun, 26 Jul 2015 15:05:37 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20842_park4night-camping_car_et_van_.phpReview: Superspot 20800mAh Executive Power Bankhttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/reviews/item/20841_Superspot_20800mAh_Executive_P.php
Even if you do the usual 3.7V/5V maths to calculate the actual power available at the voltage your smartphone needs it (i.e. the 5V level), you still end up with well over 15,000mAh of useable charge from this new 'Executive' power bank. Add in a unique backlit LED readout, triple output jacks and a torch function and you've got a really, really interesting mobile accessory.]]>Fri, 24 Jul 2015 07:20:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/reviews/item/20841_Superspot_20800mAh_Executive_P.phpMini-review: Tales from the Dragon Mountain: The Strixhttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20840_Tales.php
Hidden object games sound a little trivial on a small phone screen, but the more sophisticated tites ratchet up the puzzle factor with things you have to move, use in specific sequences, keep until needed, and then mini-games on top. Tales from the Dragon Mountain: The Strix is in the latter camp and offers a sophisticated playing environment.]]>Thu, 23 Jul 2015 06:03:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20840_Tales.phpWorking with Maps on Windows 10 Mobile: a FAQhttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20838_Working_with_Maps_on_Windows_1.php
One of the cornerstones of Windows Phone for years was the Nokia/HERE Maps and Drive applications inherited from Nokia's Symbian days. And with Windows 10, all of this is changing, though perhaps not to quite the same degree as you might think. You won't see the HERE brand in Windows 10, but see below for some common questions and answers about Windows Maps.]]>Thu, 23 Jul 2015 05:36:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20838_Working_with_Maps_on_Windows_1.phpMini-review: Merchants of Kaidan: a slickly programmed classic RPGhttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20839_Merchants_of_Kaidan_a_slickly_.php
If, like me, you like your Windows Phone games to be free of tedious freemium trappings and if (and it's a big 'if') you're into RPGs then take a look at the commercial Merchants of Kaidan. A cross platform game, it's still well programmed for Windows Phone with few elements that are too small to read or to hit, plus there are characters and acquisitions and atmosphere aplenty.]]>Wed, 22 Jul 2015 15:00:36 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20839_Merchants_of_Kaidan_a_slickly_.phpWhen the going gets tough: Windows Phone off-road mappinghttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20783_When_the_going_gets_tough_Wind.php
It's all very well having world-leading HERE Maps data covering every street in the known universe (well, almost), but what about when you abandon your car and start hiking, cycling or even geocaching, out in the country? For this, you need extra software and data help. Viewranger, on other platforms, is very well known, but it's not available on Windows Phone - begging the question, what to use instead? In this updated feature, I run through over half a dozen very viable alternatives.]]>Wed, 22 Jul 2015 08:22:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20783_When_the_going_gets_tough_Wind.phpMicrosoft revenues for Q2, 2015 were $22.2 billion, Lumias up 10% year-on-yearhttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20837_Microsoft_revenues_for_Q2_2015.php
Slightly confusingly, Microsoft just announced its Q4 results (they run from June to June!), but we'll call them Q2, 2015 results. No real surprises, with high revenue but overall losses when all costs and restructurings are taken into account. Still, it's very early days for the 'new', leaner, fitter Microsoft and we won't see the real results of Satya Nadella's cuts and reorganisations until at least this time next year. Some quotes from the investor document below.]]>Wed, 22 Jul 2015 06:32:43 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20837_Microsoft_revenues_for_Q2_2015.phpAAWP Insight #147: Windows 10 Mobile upgrade, IAPs, and morehttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/media/item/20836_AAWP_Insight_147_Windows_10_Mo.php
In AAWP Insight #147, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we start by considering how many existing device owners will upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile (and think about some of the obstacles and motivations). Other topics include our experiences with the latest build of Windows 10 Mobile (including praise for the transparency on IAPs), problems with video streams in the BBC iPlayer app (and implications for testing apps), and a series of app picks.]]>Tue, 21 Jul 2015 22:15:58 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/media/item/20836_AAWP_Insight_147_Windows_10_Mo.phpCityglance: 'Travel, Meet & Share'. Well, maybehttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20835_Cityglance_Travel_Meet__Share_.php
Aargh! Not another social network! Oh yes. In this case one based around geographical presence on public transport routes in a number of cities across the world. I know it sounds unlikely, and something you'd see pitched in the 'Dragons Den', but apparently Cityglance has taken off in some cities in Europe, thanks mainly to its cross-platform nature.]]>Tue, 21 Jul 2015 17:26:22 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20835_Cityglance_Travel_Meet__Share_.phpThe state of iPlayer on Windows Phone: more attention needed by the Beeb!http://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20834_The_state_of_BBC_iPlayer_on_Wi.php
Look in the Windows Phone Store for BBC iPlayer (at least, if you're in the UK, anyone else need not apply!) and you'll see a client for this incredibly popular streaming and catch-up TV service from the UK's national broadcasting operation. Look a little closer and you'll see huge numbers of negative reviews, talking about laggy performance, constant buffering and break-up. How can an application be this bad? Well, in fact it's not. But it's also demonstrably in need of attention by the BBC, should anyone from the media division be listening to AAWP. You see, it only works fine on a specific portion of the Windows Phone hardware range.]]>Tue, 21 Jul 2015 08:16:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20834_The_state_of_BBC_iPlayer_on_Wi.phpExposing In-App-Purchases in Windows 10 Mobilehttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20833_Exposing_In-App-Purchases_in_W.php
Of the many things that are 'better' in Windows 10 Mobile (and a few that aren't, but that's a piece for another day), I have to raise a glass to the Microsoft Store team for fully exposing all the in-app-purchases for each item in the Store. For freemium games especially, and particularly so because the largest IAPs are listed first, this should help eliminate the crazy 'oops, my finger slipped' freemium levels in some titles. Definitely a step forward.]]>Mon, 20 Jul 2015 10:06:23 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20833_Exposing_In-App-Purchases_in_W.phpOnly around 15% of WP 8.1 users to upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile?http://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20826_Windows_10_Mobile-should_you_s.php
There's something of a blanket assumption that everyone currently using Windows Phone 8.1 will upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile - after all, Microsoft has been promising that 'majority' of users will join the Window 10 ecosystem. But, after a few recent experiences of mine with budget devices, I thought it worth sounding a note of caution and reality - I'd put money on the actual conversion numbers to Windows 10 Mobile being significantly less than 50% and maybe as low as 15%...]]>Mon, 20 Jul 2015 08:16:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20826_Windows_10_Mobile-should_you_s.phpWindows 10 welcomes in the next generation - on all form factorshttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20832_Windows_10_welcomes_in_the_nex.php
I've been saying for a while that my daughter's generation (born around 2000) will never have known a time when there wasn't ubiquitous Internet on every device, wherever they go. Microsoft takes things one step further with a new video ad for Windows 10 and Cortana, looking at the generation born around 2010, for whom they'll never have known a time before touchscreens, voice recognition and password-less security. Nice idea and well implemented in the video below.]]>Mon, 20 Jul 2015 06:27:01 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20832_Windows_10_welcomes_in_the_nex.phpMini-review: Tiny Troopers 2: Special Opshttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20831_Mini-review_Tiny_Troopers_2_Sp.php
Now available and with some exclusive (to Windows Phone) in-app extras, Tiny Troopers 2 brings more of the same miniaturised battlefield action to your smartphone. It's slick, it's polished, and it's challenging - turns out it's surprisingly easy to get your team blown to smithereens. In war, who knew?(!)]]>Sun, 19 Jul 2015 12:47:26 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20831_Mini-review_Tiny_Troopers_2_Sp.phpMini-review: Crime Coast a maelstrom mix of RPG, SimCity and tower defensehttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20830_Crime_Coast_a_maelstrom_mix_of.php
This was originally intended to be a full review, but the depth of the gameplay here eluded my available time available - and probably yours too. Crime Coast is not a casual game, but if you want something to get your teeth into on the small screen and don't mind the odd few quid in IAPs then it's a slick (if crooked) take on the virtual world game genre that will entertain you for a good while.]]>Sun, 19 Jul 2015 07:14:48 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20830_Crime_Coast_a_maelstrom_mix_of.phpHyperlapse Mobile now for all Lumiashttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20829_Hyperlapse_Mobile_now_for_all_.php
Launched back in May, when it was only available for x00-series Snapdragon-based Lumias, Hyperlapse Mobile has now been recompiled to work on older S4-based devices (think Lumia 920, 925, 1020, mainly), though it also now works on the 512MB RAM S4 generation of budget phones like the Lumia 520/620/720, albeit at lower output resolution. Some quotes and links below.]]>Sat, 18 Jul 2015 19:53:06 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20829_Hyperlapse_Mobile_now_for_all_.phpExploring the Lumia 950, the impending flagship, relative to the Lumia 930http://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20828_flagship.php
Having decided a year or two ago that we can talk about unreleased products on AAWP, provided that there's enough evidence to support them, and with a wave of confirmations about an imminent Lumia 950 and 950 XL (note the next-gen renaming, signifying a generational jump from the current x40 devices), along with most of the specifications, it's time to look at what the new devices will bring to the table, over and above the existing Lumia 930 (the '2014 flagship', if you will) - which itself will get Windows 10 Mobile within a couple of months.]]>Fri, 17 Jul 2015 09:12:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20828_flagship.phpHow to: Manage 'quiet hours' so that critical calls still get throughhttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20827_How_to_manage_quiet_hours_so_t.php
One subject that we've never covered here on AAWP is the 'quiet hours' feature that debuted with Windows Phone 8.1 - something I realised when sitting in a car park after midnight waiting for my daughter's train to arrive and not realising that she'd been trying to call me for 15 minutes but my Lumia had muted her because it was past 00:00 and so 'quiet hours' was in place (to help me sleep!) Determined to fix things, I did so - and noted in the process that, on the new Windows 10 Mobile, the 'quiet hours' settings are slightly hidden. Making a beginners tutorial all the more appropriate.]]>Thu, 16 Jul 2015 16:38:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20827_How_to_manage_quiet_hours_so_t.phpEdge browser speed boasts and mobile Office clarificationshttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20825_Edge_browser_speed_boasts_and_.php
The frequency of blog posts from the Microsoft Windows teams is increasing as we get closer to the official day of availability of Windows 10 on the desktop (July 29th) and, shortly after, on smartphones as well, as Windows 10 Mobile. Yesterday, accompanying the release (to Insiders) of what may be the build submitted to manufacturers, saw an interesting post with information about the desktop release, about the new Microsoft Edge browser (which I've been enjoying on the Lumia 1520), and about Office Mobile. See the quotes below.]]>Thu, 16 Jul 2015 10:28:42 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20825_Edge_browser_speed_boasts_and_.phpWeb Store changes, one design, one platform, etc.http://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20824_Windows_10_message_hitting_hom.php
You may see the message 'To use this app, upgrade to Windows 10' plastered all over the new Microsoft (Web) Store pages from a while - and it's rather misleading, at least for mobile users. Browsing Windows Phone applications in Microsoft's Web-based Store was often a quick way to find something, and more reliable than searching the on-device Store. But the company has now switched over to a new style 'all in one' Web Store, for all form factors and Windows variants. While this is indeed the goal in the long term (i.e. one platform), it does send something of a confusing message to anyone browsing for applications or games for their existing Windows Phone 8.x device - and bear in mind that the Windows 10 Mobile upgrades are still a few months away.]]>Thu, 16 Jul 2015 08:46:14 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20824_Windows_10_message_hitting_hom.phpAAWP Insight #146: job losses, focussed portfolio, Windows 10 Mobilehttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/media/item/20823_AAWP_Insight_146_job_losses_fo.php
In AAWP Insight #146, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we talk through the implications of Microsoft's recently announced job cuts to the Devices Group and the associated $7.8 billion write down linked to the acquisition of Nokia's Devices and Services business. We also cover the latest Windows 10 Mobile Build (10166) and highlight Steve's recent investigation of Windows 10 Mobile's performance on different processor/RAM configurations (from Lumia 520 to 1520).]]>Thu, 16 Jul 2015 07:58:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/media/item/20823_AAWP_Insight_146_job_losses_fo.phpGoogle Drive client arrives as (unofficial) universal application for Windows Phonehttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20822_Google_Drive_client_arrives_as.php
Google services are few and far between on Windows Phone, but third party clients do pop up now and then. Such is the case with the obviously-named 'Client for Google Drive' here, with full file and folder navigation, plus downloading and even limited file synchronisation. Well, that's the theory anyway. In practice, I just got five minutes of trawling dots and no files. Maybe you'll have better luck with a smaller Google Drive?]]>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 17:10:06 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20822_Google_Drive_client_arrives_as.phpMini-review: FeedLab is another Feedly and news reading clienthttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20820_FeedLab_is_yet_another_Feedly_.php
Possibly one of the most popular app genres in the mobile world is news reading, thanks to RSS and simple APIs to RSS aggregators like Feedly. (If you've no idea what I just said then FeedLab probably isn't for you!) The commercial Nextgen Reader is still my favourite on any platform, but FeedLab is a new contender in the Store this week and I took a look below.]]>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 08:44:15 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20820_FeedLab_is_yet_another_Feedly_.phpReview: Core Playerhttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/reviews/item/20819_Core_Player.php
I have to confess that I’m not entirely sure why everyone’s been so hard on Microsoft’s built-in Music player over the last couple of years. OK, so there’s the bizarre Xbox branding, but hey, that’s going and, err.. getting more bizarre (‘Groove’). But, on the whole, it works pretty well now, with both local and streamed music from OneDrive. Yet there’s an aftermarket cottage industry in replacement music players. Let's have a look at the commercial Core Player.]]>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 07:45:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/reviews/item/20819_Core_Player.phpMajor Dropbox and Tweetium updates bring 'Recents' view and full size image viewinghttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20818_Major_Dropbox_and_Tweetium_upd.php
Major updates appeared overnight for the popular Dropbox and Tweetium applications for Windows Phone, with changelogs quoted below. Both are must-installs, of course. Tweetium, if only that the official Twitter client is starting to look a little bare-bones by comparison, and the ability to see full-size media without having to load up a full conversation is very welcome here. Plus the Dropbox update includes an inspired UI decision...]]>Tue, 14 Jul 2015 10:54:38 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20818_Major_Dropbox_and_Tweetium_upd.phpThat phone is amazing - where can I buy it? Err.. it's old and you can't!http://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20816_That_phone_is_amazing-where_ca.php
The titular question was from an extended family member on Saturday and followed an afternoon of similar enquiries and expressions. You see, it was the school summer fayre, the sun was beating down, photo opportunities were everywhere and yet tricky at the same time, and somehow I managed, thanks to the unique hardware in the Nokia Lumia 1020. We. Need. A. New. Imaging. Flagship. A real one. With Xenon. And all the trimmings.]]>Tue, 14 Jul 2015 05:34:00 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/20816_That_phone_is_amazing-where_ca.phpVideo 360 lets you experience all round viewinghttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20815_Video_360_lets_you_experience_.php
The developers of the popular Tubecast Pro have come up with another very useful video tool, a companion application ($2, but you can try it 20 times for free, etc.), Video 360. One of the current trends in the YouTube and mobile world is 360° videos, shot on special spherical cameras, letting people with compatible applications use their phone's gyroscope to control where the 'virtual camera' is pointing through the video. And now you can join in with Video 360 on Windows Phone. ]]>Mon, 13 Jul 2015 08:38:04 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20815_Video_360_lets_you_experience_.phpThe Nadella cuts continue - some Microsoft content applications to be withdrawnhttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20814_The_Nadella_cuts_continue-some.php
After a week of service and employee cuts from Satya Nadella, in an effort to keep Microsoft focussed and profitable into the future, there's more - end of life has been announced for several Microsoft 'MSN' content services and applications. Microsoft has said that the affected applications (Food & Drink, Health & Fitness, and Travel) simply hadn't attracted a high enough following across the various form factors (mobile, desktop, web), though (oddly) 'you’ll still find a wealth of content in the Health & Fitness, Travel and Food & Drink sections of the MSN.com website' - so it's clearly not the content generation itself that was proving expensive, but the manpower to support the applications and their associated 'services'.]]>Mon, 13 Jul 2015 07:18:53 GMThttp://allaboutwindowsphone.com/flow/item/20814_The_Nadella_cuts_continue-some.php